Reece James has given his verdict on one of Chelsea's potential 2023 transfers as Todd Boehly looks to add depth and quality to the squad for Graham Potter. The Blues are on a rotten run of form with one win in eight in the league and the confused policies over past years look to have taken its toll on the squad.
Potter could justifiably ask for additions in almost every position across the team and that's how the strategy looks to be playing out in January. Targets include Rafael Leao in attack all the way back to Emi Martinez as another goalkeeping option with plenty going on in-between.
Three players have already been brought in, David Datro Fofana, Benoit Badiashile and Andrey Santos pending the announcement but that's not the end of the activity. Potter has plans for at least one more midfielder as well as competition for James at right-back due to his injury record.
READ MORE: Pep Guardiola stunned by Chelsea star as Todd Boehly handed new £26.5m transfer conundrum
The 23-year-old has struggled for consistent minutes for 12 months with setbacks coming too frequently for his liking. James offers the Blues balance that they cannot replace with any other tactical set-ups though and his importance in the squad cannot be overstated.
The lack of defensive midfield presence has made it tough for Potter to gain control in matches so far and without James that physicality lessens even more. That is, until Denis Zakaria started to be offered more gametime. The Swiss international had to wait until November for his debut and had been peripheral to the plans before then.
Since playing and scoring against Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League he has started every game since. His impressive run of form has aided Potter in selection with his energy helping to cover ground in front of the defence and he was arguably the best player against Manchester City.
Such was his composure on the ball and driving runs from deep, James took to social media to praise the 26-year-old. Replying to Zakaria's Instagram post, "Serious player." James has only played 60 minutes alongside his teammate, featuring against Bournemouth on New Year's Day.
Zakaria came in for a one-season loan on deadline day in the summer due to the desperation of Thomas Tuchel for an extra body in the centre of the park. His career has halted somewhat having been a promising player at Borussia Monchengladbach. Although it has only been a short spike of form there is already talk of Chelsea triggering the option to buy in Zakaria's contract.
It is believed to be around £26.5m, which would come in well below market value for any player with Champions League and top-end Premier League experience and is at least four times less than Benfica's asking price for Enzo Fernandez.
It's probably still too soon tell if Zakaria can be the man that Chelsea need him to be but the praise from James may well stand to mean something moving forward.
READ NEXT:
Lewis Hall, Omari Hutchinson and the three other Chelsea stars who deserve to start vs Man City
Pep Guardiola stunned by Chelsea star as Todd Boehly handed new £26.5m transfer conundrum
Why Todd Boehly is eyeing £88m Mykhaylo Mudryk January transfer as Chelsea hijack Arsenal deal
Graham Potter faces unwanted Benoit Badiashile decision for Man City vs Chelsea after £34m deal
Chelsea complete Andrey Santos deal as Todd Boehly continues transfer plan
